Garden implement



Jan. 15, 1935. J. F. coNNoR 1,987,846

" I GARDEN IMPLEMENT Filed April 27, 1934 be 2 m ATTORNEY.

INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 15, 1935 1 J UNl-TED'STATES PATENT OFFICE GARDEN IMPLEMENT Jay F. Connor, Wilbraham, Mass.

ApplicationADril 27, 1934, Serial No. 722,759

2 Claims. (01. 97-71) This invention relates to improvements in garhandle preferably has downwardly depending .den implements and is directed more particularly arms 4 extending from its lower end. Associated to improvements in that type of garden implewith and carried by the arms 4 is the tool of the ment which is used to cultivate the soil. invention. Although the handle 2 may be con- 5 The invention has for its principal objects the nected directly to the tool, the arms 4, according 5 provision of a novel implement which is adapted to the preferred form of the invention, are confor many uses, but is more particularly adapted nected at their lower ends to what may be called to serve the function of a cultivating tool which a plate member 6.

overcomes the disadvantages of prior art cultiv This plate member is preferably made of metal vators. The tool of this invention by reason of or some other relatively rigid material suitable 10 its novel construction is peculiarly adapted to get for performing the functions of the invention. under the soil and dislodge it in such a way that The plate is bent intermediate marginal side edges the dust-mulch so valuable in conserving moisas shown to provide angularly disposed portions ture for plant-life is discharged as is desirable and 10 and 12. For purposes of disclosure, the portion weeds and weed-seeds are destroyed. 10 may be called an upper portion and the portion 15 Prior art garden-working tools have the dis- 12 a lower portion, although, as will be seen, acadvantageous characteristic of scraping the surcording to one way of operating the device, the face soil from one place to another, leaving some portion 10 may be lowermost. spots or places without any mulch. That is to The plate member 6 is provided with a substan- 2 say, it is desirable in cultivating operations that tially centrally disposed aperture 15 which may the surface of the ground be materially'broken extend through either or both of the angularly up and the surface soil be kept from packing hard disposed portions 10 and 12. In any event, the around'the plants and between the rows. This is opening 15 is disposed intermediate the forward because as is well known, the sun ever strives to -marginal edges of the portion 12 and the rear draw moisture out of the ground and if the suredge of the portion 10 for purposes which will 25 face is relatively hard and baked and contact with shortly appear.

the lower soil is not broken, the moisture in the According to the preferred form of the invenground, rising to the surface by capillary action, tion, one marginal edge of the portion 12, which is withdrawn and evaporates into the atmosphere. henceforth for purposes of disclosure is referred As stated, the tool of this invention is adapted to as the toothed wor edge, s bs t l y 30 to get under the soil and dislodge it in such a way V-shaped as shown. The aperture 15 is preferthat the dust-mulch is conserved. The impleably so formed that its inner marginal edge adment of this invention breaks up the caked surlatent the portion 12 approximates the shap face of the soil and discharges it in substantially of a V similar to the toothed edge of the part 12,

.35 the same place in which it lay before being dissubstantially as shown.

turbed. The outer edge of the portion 12 is provided Various other novel features and advantages of with what may be called a saw-tooth edge. That the invention will appear hereinafter in the acis to say, plurality f grooves r n ches 20 companying description of the preferred form are provided therein and these are preferably thereof, reference being had to the accompanying so formed that tines or points 22 are formed. 40 drawing wherein: In this way, as the tool is. drawn through the Fig. lisaside elevational view of the implement soil as shown in Fig. 5, the teeth lift up soil of the invention. without violently displacing it anddischarge it Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view on the line 2-2 over the main body of the portion 12 through of Fig. 1. i the aperture 15 where it again lies on the ground. 45

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the de- The other portion 10 0f the plate member vice in a position different from that shown in h h, as tated, is angularly disp at v Fig. l. to theportion 12, preferably has a substantially Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modistraight outer marginal edge, with the side marfied form of the invention, and ginal edges preferably converging inwardly or 50 Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with parts in upwardly to the rear more or less, as shown section showing how the cultivator is used. in Figs. 1 and 5. In this way, the soil lifted by Referring now to the drawing more in detail, the toothed elements of the element 12' may the invention will be fully described. not only be readily discharged through the open- In Fig. 1, 2 represents a handle member. This ing 15 but may pass outwardly and over the sides 55 If desired, as shown in Fig. 4, a plate mem ber 6' may be provided which is bent interme-: diate marginal side edges, as is plate 6, to have angularly disposed working elements 10'and12',

the latter having alternate grooves and tines sheet metal bent on a transverse line intermediate 22. This plate has a relativelyla'rge aperture 15' formed by cutting the inner marginal edges of the working elements relatively closer to their outer marginal edges. In this way, the soil may be more readily discharged than is the case even with the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2.

When using the toothed working element of my implement, the plate member is so disposed relative to the ground that its working portion 12 is substantially horizontal as shown in Fig. 5. The tool is drawn towards the operator so that the soil is picked up by the teeth and discharged through the aperture.

If it is desired to chop the soil or dig trenches, for example, the tool may be reversed so that the substantially straight outer edge of the working element 10 is disposed at an angle to the soil as shown in Fig. 3. It may be seen that since the outer side of the portion 10 is more or less narrower than its innermost portion as shown in the drawing and since the side edges of it converge, the soil may readily pass thereover and thus the disadvantages of clogging are obviated.

As stated, the back or upper portion 10 of the tool is bent at an angle relative to the portion 12. Thus, when the tool is in its working position as shown in Fig. 5, the soil may readily be discharged through the aperture or over the sides and there is little likelihood of the soils piling up. That is to say, the toothed elements get under the soil and lift it slightly and discharge it rearwardly and through the aperture as small lumps or particles of dust, commonly called dust-mulch.

As stated above, the handle member 2 may be connected directly to the plate member in some suitable manner. However, according to the preferred form of the invention the arms 4 are provided and they are attached to the sides of the plate member so as to eliminate the tendency for weeds, turf and other such material to be drawn along with the tool.

The portion 10 may be called a reinforcing bar portion. This is because, as shown, it connects the side portions of the V 12.

It is desired to point out that the handle and working parts of the tool of this invention are preferably disposed in substantially the angular relation shown and that such an arrangement and construction enables the operator to do more weeding and cultivating in less time and with less expenditure of energy than has been heretofore possible with prior art garden implements. The tool may be drawn between the plants with a steady pull or with a jerky motion all as may be desired and as the condition of the soil necessitates.

While I have described my invention in great detail and with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, I do not desire to be limited to such detail or embodiment since many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broader aspects. Hence, what I desire to claim as new and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

I 1. A tool of the class described for working soil comprising in combination, a plate member of its ends providing angularly disposed end portions, the endmost marginal edge of one of said end portions formed to the shape of a V having the apex thereof disposed away from the said transverse line and provided with alternate notches and tines, the endmost marginal edge of the other of said end portions being straight and disposed substantially parallel to said transverse line of bending, the said plate member provided with a central opening therethrough having angularly disposed transverse edges spaced from and in substantial parallelism with the V-forming edge of said one end portion and another transverse edge spaced from and in substantial parallelism with said endmost straight edge of said other end portion providing in conjunction with said endmost marginal edges a V having side portions connected by a reinforcing bar portion around said opening, and a handle extending upwardly from said plate and immovable relative thereto, all adapted and arranged whereby the said one end portion of the plate having the V- shaped edge may be drawn through the ground below its surface to loosen the soil thereof so that the said soil passes over the said one end portion and through the said opening of the plate beneath said reinforcing bar which extends upwardly therefrom.

2. A tool of the class described for working soil comprising in combination, a plate member of sheet metal bent on a transverse line intermediate its ends to provide an end portion in the shape of a V having the sides thereof connected to a transverse reinforcing end portion providing an opening therebetween and the said end portions being disposed in planes at an angle relative to one another, the outer marginal edge of the firstnamed end portion being provided with alternate notches and tines and the outer marginal edge of the second-named end portion being disposed substantially transversely, and a handle extending upwardly from one of said end portions and immovable relative thereto, all adapted and arranged whereby the first-named end portion may be drawn through the soil below its surface in substantial parallelism therewith to cause the soil to pass over the said portion and through the said opening.

JAY F. CONNOR. 

